Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Laila
GirlArabic, Persian· “night”
- Meaning
- night
- Origin
- Arabic, Persian
- Pronunciation
- LAY-luh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #413
- US babies 2025
- 755
- Best rank
- #135 (2009)
- Peak year
- 2008
Meaning and origin of Laila
Laila is an Arabic and Persian name that means “night”.
Laila is a spelling of Layla, from the Arabic word for night. The name is closely tied to the old Arabic love story of Layla and Majnun, which the Persian poet Nizami retold in a celebrated twelfth-century poem; it became one of the most famous romances of the Islamic world, and it inspired the rock song Layla. The name is used across the Arab world, Iran, South Asia and far beyond. Laila has a soft, lilting sound that feels both classic and current. Related spellings include Layla, Leila and Leyla, and each carries the same evocative image of the evening sky.
Popularity over time
Laila first appears in US Social Security records in 1884. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 27 different years, starting in 1884. Its best national rank was #135 in 2009, and the most babies received it in 2008, when 2,414 were named Laila. In 2025, 755 babies were named Laila, and it ranked #413 nationally. That is 60% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,683 in 1920, #1,741 in 1980, #644 in 2000, #140 in 2010, and #413 in 2025. Of the 43,484 US girls named Laila since records began, 45% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 14,446 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Kylee, Alana, Marley, Kate, and Giselle.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Laila ranked highest in Maryland, Louisiana, and New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | #219 | 24 |
| Louisiana | #264 | 17 |
| New York | #273 | 62 |
| New Jersey | #280 | 30 |
| Virginia | #293 | 29 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Laila is usually pronounced LAY-luh, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with L and ends in “-la”.
Middle names for Laila
A few middle names that flow with Laila: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Laila
Similar names
Leila Girl
LAY-luh
“night” · Arabic
#259
Leyla Girl
LAY-luh
“night” · Turkish
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Layla Girl
LAY-luh
“night” · Arabic
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Lila Girl
LY-luh
“play (Sanskrit); night (Arabic)” · Sanskrit
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Nyla Girl
NY-luh
“uncertain; possibly one who succeeds” · American (modern coinage)
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Stella Girl
STEL-uh
“star” · Latin
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Lyla Girl
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“night” · Arabic
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Yasmin Girl
YAZ-mihn
“jasmine flower” · Persian
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Mina Girl
MEE-nuh
“short form of names like Wilhelmina” · German
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Zahra Girl
ZAH-ruh
“flower; radiant” · Arabic
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Soraya Girl
suh-RY-uh
“the Pleiades” · Persian
#868
Nahla Girl
NAH-luh
“a drink of water” · Arabic
#2,850
Lists that include Laila
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Laila mean?
Laila is an Arabic and Persian name that means “night”.
What is the origin of the name Laila?
Laila has Arabic and Persian roots. Laila is a spelling of Layla, from the Arabic word for night.
Is Laila a popular name?
Yes. Laila ranked #413 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Laila a boy or girl name?
Laila is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Laila?
Laila is usually pronounced LAY-luh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings